How to stay true to your resolutions this new year

Wed 11 January, 2023
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New year, new me. How many times have you told yourself that? Make new year resolutions and by the end of those 365 days... you don't meet them.

You might maintain your resolutions for the first few weeks but are quick to abandon them. Disheartening, isn't it? Fear not, hope is not lost.

Stay determined and this year will be the year you truly make a change! But first things first is a change in outlook. Stop seeing your resolutions as resolutions and instead rename them to goals. A resolution is a wish, but a goal is real and achievable!

Keep your goals specific. Keep your goals limited. Keep your goals small.

A reason why you're unable to change in the new year is that you set too many goals. They're hard to keep track of and now you're overwhelmed.

Another aspect is that you are being too vague with your goals. You're telling yourself to go to the gym more when instead your goal could be to do 20 push-ups every day. Looks much easier to do, doesn't it? You could do it right now.

Finally, your goals may be too big. You're wishing to be filthy rich by the year's end when a more realistic goal would be to reduce certain spending habits to save cash.

Your goals could be as simple as flossing every day or not using your phone for the first hour after you wake up.

Don't walk a mile, take a step instead.

Procrastination and a lack of discipline gets the best of us. These two qualities make getting to the end result hard however there is a simple solution -- create a plan.

Open your notebook or the notes app on your device and begin to jot down all you can do to bring your goals to fruition.

Divide your goal into bite-sized actions you can do over the year.

Want to work out more? Then make use of your calendar and slot in 30 minutes every week to do yoga, increasing month by month. You can even get a free Get Active scheme and try new classes throughout the year.

Want to be more social? Make a list of your insecurities, learn to cope with your negative thoughts, make a list of your strengths, overcome your fear of rejection, and find events to attend.

Want to eat healthier? Add foods you want to your diet, find easy cheap recipes and meal plan.

Keep track every time you make a step towards your goal. For example, create a checklist for each week listing each week you plan to do yoga and tick each week off as you complete your tasks. Tally up at the end of the year and you'll see how much you've truly done.

Don't set yourself up for failure. Find yourself a support system. Make your goals doable. Make your goals fun and enticing.

Be flexible, be kind.

Things won't always go to plan so don't beat yourself up if you miss out on a day or more of focusing on your goals. Life happens. Sometimes you might be feeling under the weather, or something came up. It's okay. Schedule that time for another day or just simply move on to the next.

Stay kind to yourself.

You've already done so much, and you'll continue to do more. Progress is progress no matter how small. A couple of setbacks aren't going to stop you. It's just a pause.

Abandon your goals for another year? Worry not. It's okay. Don't shame yourself.

You'll get another chance.

In the next week, the next month, the next year.

You can try again.

Always.

Stay patient, stay persistent. You're doing well.

Keep trying.

Sharmin Ahmed

Third Year, Creative Writing Student

Greetings fellow earthling, I'm Sharmin Ahmed, your local professional hibernator, chocoholic and lover of anything cute and fluffy. My three years of studying Creative Writing should let you know I have a knack for wordsmanship. Whether that's a good knack or not, I'll leave it for you to decide the day you see my name on a bookshelf.